Nikkei Cuisine in east London 🇯🇵 🇵🇪
Stratford's Japanese fusion restaurant, Bamboo Mat, is the next venue for Hotspots, presented by @LycamobileUK 📍 pic.twitter.com/64p2KaDLyr— West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) June 6, 2025
West Ham United’s Women team stars Riko Ueki and Anouk Denton celebrated and educated each other on their cultures in a Japanese/Peruvian special episode of Lyca Mobile’s Hotspots.
Hammers striker and Japan international Ueki was joined by teammate Anouk Denton as they visited Bamboo-Mat, which serves an outstanding blend of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, becoming one of the trailblazers of the Nikkei movement (Peruvian-Japanese fusion) in London.
Right in the heart of east London, in Stratford’s bustling East Village, Bamboo-Mat brings a fresh perspective on Nikkei cuisine. Chef-owner Denis Gobjila (formerly at Chotto Matte) and his business partner, Victor Rosca (formerly at Sushisamba and Lucky Cat), have peeled off from their previous Peruvian and Japanese restaurant establishments to join forces and stamp their own mark within the capital.
During the episode the Hammers duo try a wide range of Bamboo-Mat’s most popular dishes, including sushi rolls, ox-cheek and Peruvian speciality Seabass Ceviche. Ueki and Denton both enjoy the unique and powerful flavours of the Nikkei cuisine on offer, wanting to ‘eat it all!’ as the plates kept coming at Bamboo-Mat.
The pair both played instrumental roles in the Club’s latest Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) season, helping the Hammers' incredible form in east London, where they broke a Club record for most home wins in a WSL campaign.
The third episode of the series encapsulates West Ham United’s and Lyca Mobile’s mission to champion east London’s diverse cultures through ‘hotspots’, which bring together football, food and community to showcase the global identity of the Club within the local community.
Previous episodes have seen men’s first team captain Jarrod Bowen learn more about Mexican food culture with Edson Álvarez, as well as Crysencio Summerville and Aaron Wan-Bissaka heading to Barge East in Hackney Wick, a stone's throw from the London Stadium.
This engaging campaign is aimed at providing more than just entertainment - it also highlights both West Ham United and Lyca Mobile’s commitment to being at the heart of its community, with this series telling the stories of local businesses and earning them exposure across the Club’s social media channels.
Lyca Mobile and West Ham United have worked in partnership for several seasons, spanning well over a decade. During that time, they have collaborated on multiple projects for the benefit of their shared local communities in east London and Essex.
Click here to find out more about West Ham United and Lyca Mobile’s partnership.
